Inflation tube for milking apparatus



Mangh 19, 1935. J. A. SCHMITT INFLATION TUBE FOR MILKING APPARATUS Filed July 16Y 1928 Patented Mar. L19, 1935 or pulsating liners leading therefrom.

For dling, able.

are shown in prior patents, been experienced. in theirV parts.

A further an inflation m in the shell INFLATI John A.

0N TUBE' Fon APPARATUS Schmitt, Waukesha,

c MiLKING Wis., assigner to The Universal Milking Machine Company, v

Waukesha,

. Y VApplication July.

integral inflation and 8 Claims.

milk tube'units but much difculty has operation due tof-their object of theinvention isvto provide or container and to pr ofthe invention is to provide eans for mounting the Yinflation Withovide means for Wis.,a corporation of Wisconsin 16, 1928,A Serial No. 293,009

sealing the engagement of the inationwith such shell and to enable the take up ork adjustment of the ination to compensate -for stretch and therefore enable the iniiation to be kept reasonably tight atall times.

- With the above primary and other incidental objects another modification. Y

Like partsvare indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views. Referring to the drawing, 1 is thevshell or teat ,bysuitablepulsator mechanism. y f e The inflation portion 2 is of flattened conical form-gradually changing from-a circular shapeA at ther top to an elliptical or iiattened oval shape axis and hence at a somewhat derent degree. `Such taper terminates at the lower end of the inflation inV a ta- Y ately above the taperedfth'roat 4 transverse plane l plane of fluently substantially` in `way between such polygonal vflange 'l the unit Amaterial used for the tube*v 12 is of 2 pered throat 4 which on opposite sides confoinis to the taper of the inflation as shown in Fig. 2, while at right angle thereto such throat tapers more abruptly than the inflation as shown in Fig. 1. 'This affords inwardly convergent offsets at the lower end of the inflation as indicated at lion two diametrically opposite sides while ina the tinuous with the side walls Yof the inflation. The seams 6 are shown disposed at right angle to the the major diameter: of the inflation. While the upperportion of the inflation 2v is of circular form as shown in'Fig. 3 the flattened conical shape of the inflation givesto its lower portion a substantially elliptical or oval shape as illustrated in Fig. 4. With the inflation so shaped itis foundthat the resistance to compression is much less in the plane of the major diameter and at right angles to the plane of the seams 6 than it is in the plane of the seams 6. Consethe flexing or bending movement'occurs the narrow sides of Athe inflation and the flattened sides containing the seams 6 tend to approach each other with'minimuxn` distortion. ByfsuchV arrangement the `seamso are relieved of undue stress and strain andV the bending and flexing actionoccurs approximately'mid opposite.A or diametrical seams 6. Surrounding the neck of the linflation immedi- A is a peripheral flange 'l for sealingV engagement with the lower end of the shell l. Formed in the'opp'ositev faces ofthe flange '7 are annular grooves 8. The flange is thus given a substantially fdovetail shape wherein the peripheral margin of the flange is of greater thickness. f v Y The lower end of the shell or-housing 1 is provided with a head 9 having therein aninternal laterally grooved flange 10`-with which thewface of the flange 7 substantially agrees. -The head 9fis interiorly screw-threaded to receive a clamp collar or gland Y1l, the inner face of which is rabbeted or offset'to substantially agree with the opposite face of the flange'?.v In operation, the inflation is subjected to `various strains and stresses which tend to unseat the engagement of the inflation with the shelland permit leakage of air. However, by clamping the marginally enlarged flange '7 between the flange 1) and collar 1l which are shaped to grasp 'the annular dove tail'form of the inflation flange '7 the latter' is effectively held against withdrawal or loosening. The collar v11 is peripherallyknurled or made of shape to facilitate its engagement and disengagement by hand operation. VBeyond the is continued in the form of an 12. While the in? integral flexible hose or tube shell 1 and subjected to more or lessV vibratory or pulsating motion is formed from a comparatively pure rubber, possessing `a` considerable .degree of elasticity and which is sometimes known in the rubber trade as pure floating stock. Such material whenA used for the tubing orfhose 12 breaks very easily.A This hose 1;?J must be applied to and 'pulled oifthe spud,v or connection leading to the receiver at frequent intervals. The rubber orrothermaterial of elastic character suitable for the inflation will not withe. stand lsuch pulling strain and the more( or less hard usage to which ordinarily subjected in use.

flation portion 2 of the unit contained within'the Y Consequently the somewhat difsides of the throat are conV ing operation.

the .tubing or hose head is ferent character, possessing less elasticity but greater tensile strength.

It has been found in practice that material of this character will not properly function when used for the inflation tube. Therefore, in constructing the present unitary inflation andmilk tube material of dierent characteristics suitableto meet the requirements conditions of use are employed for the inflation head and the milk tube portions. In practice, red rubber is preferably employed for the tube 12 while soft greyV rubber is used for the inflation. These materials are simultaneously molded, the materials blending one into the other at approximately the position of the peripheral flange 7.. This feature `of moldingV the unitary inflation and milk tube from two characteristi- VInjassembling the inflation within the teat cup or shell 1, the larger end of the inflation is nserted through the lower end of the teat cup tube l and is drawn therethrough until the peripheral flangeV '7 bears firmly against the flange 10 andis then clamped by the collar 11 with the enlarged margin firmly seated in the annular groove'of the flange 10. The upper end of the inflation is then turnedreversely over the upper end ofthe tube or shelll, whereby by its elasticity it grasps the top of the shell to form a second air tight joint. By drawing the inflation more or less. strongly before reversing it the tension of the inflation walls may be properly adjusted andany slack or stretch which may occur after a period of use can be taken up or compensated for. By disposing the seam6 at the point of minimum distortion and causing the folding or bending action to occur in a plane at right angles to the diametrical disposition of the seams 6 there will be but little bending movement and practically no strain on such seam portionsv and the bend or fold will 'occur on lines distantly spaced therefrom. This insures a much longer period of usefulnessand a greater'uniformity of action or inflation. Moreover, this shape of the yinflation has a further function of supporting the teat more comfortably and securing during the milk- The flattened sides of the conical ination being thus normally much closer to the teat than would be the case when using the usual round inflation; these flat sides in which the seamscccur have a much less range of movement having ordinarilyapproximatelyv a quarter of an'inch deflection; Y Y

This, therefore, vinsures quicker action when the released airV enterslthe shell or cup 1 and affordsa rbetter massage action. It also has the effect of a more complete release upon the teat as the inflation' expands.

As amodification of a construction heretofore described thereis shown an inflation milk tube unit having a reverse conical portion 11, as best seenY in Fig. 6, in lieu of theperipheral flange 7. This conical portion 11' is seated in the lower open end of the teat cup tube or shell 1 when the inflation is assembled, wherey it tightly engages somewhat in the same manner as a stopper except in the tapered portion has a central bore therethrough forming the interconnecting passage between the milk tube l2 and inflation 2. By drawing such Y bottle Y present instance such In Fig. the invention is shown applied to a of teat cup shell or housing While in order to comply with the statute the invention is described in language more` orless faces, the seams of said body being disposed upon such iiattenedV faces.

3. A teat cup iniiaton comprising a Iiexible cent to the major axis.

JOHN A. SCHMITT. 

